Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha walks to the cabinet meeting at Government House. He told reporters, ‘A lot of people do not understand reform.’ Photo: Patipat Janthong

He was responding to remarks by former charter drafter Borwornsak Uwanno that national reforms may not materialise as the government had handed the task to bureaucrats.

Gen Prayut said the bureaucratic system was instrumental in driving the government’s reform efforts which would take some time to bear fruit.

“A lot of people do not understand reform but I’d like to point out that the government has been doing it. The first phase is to engage every sector in resolving conflicts, improving laws, facilitating the conducting of business,” he said.

Last Sunday (May 13), Mr Borwornsak, chairman of the law reform committee, expressed doubts at a press conference about how the reform plans would be turned into action.

Gen Prayut rejected the Pheu Thai Party’s accusation that his government had failed to implement reforms and should be held responsible for the waste of resources.

He also shot back at political parties for criticising the regime over national reform.

“Don’t say the government didn’t do anything. How could it do nothing in these four years? And I want to ask those politicians who attack the government about this. What reforms will they institute if they come to power?” he said.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said today that the government was proceeding with reforms on all fronts but pointed out that getting results is no easy job.

He suggested that media outlets could contribute by raising public awareness.

Suthep Thaugsuban, chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon Foundation, also came out in defence of Gen Prayut over the government’s reform drive.

During the live-streaming, the former protest leader said the government had some achievements in the area of national reform.

“The constitution which is currently in force has a framework for reform while the previous ones didn’t,” he said.

He called on the government not to be discouraged by criticism and to proceed with police reform, saying that would be proof of the prime minister’s commitment.

“I and a group of people believe it is not a waste of time and resources. If you can finish just one or two, it’s okay and the public can help push for the rest,” he said.

Mr Suthep also said he was pinning his hopes on police reforms on a new committee chaired by chief charter writer Meechai Ruchupan.

The panel was recently set up by the cabinet out of a need to make changes to a previous police reform plan written by another committee led by former supreme commander Boonsrang Niumpradit.

Criticism over the regime’s reform plans is mounting ahead of May 22 when the National Council for Peace and Order will mark its fourth anniversary in power.

Two major reform bodies were set up over the past four years – the National Reform Council, which initiated 37 reform proposals, and the National Reform Steering Assembly which has pushed forward 190 issues for national reform.

For Editor only: Mr Editor, For message below I still had 11 characters to fill out, but is was cut.

Kurt |
16 May 2018 - 10:06:58

Reforms?
-- How about stopping that 'inactive post' thing for wrong doing government officials
-- Stop transfers of crooky Officials to other offices were they can restart their wrong doings again and teach it to others
-- Make RTP to respect laws and enforce them. To many RTP officers see their job just as a money pig
See unlawful closing times of night venues, even around RTP station...